Signaling system and method of operating the same



' ,Qct. 213, 1923.

E. D. JOHNSON" SIGNALING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME Original Filed Jan. 24, 1918 -//1 veniar: v

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Patented Get. 23, 1923,

,UNETED stares artists rarest errata,

EDGAR D. JOHNSON, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELEG- TRIO COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SIGNALIN SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME.

Application filed January 24, 1918, Serial 130 213,523. RenewedAugustt, 1923.

To all whom it may concern; 4

Be it known that I, EDGAR D. JoHNsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Orange, in the county of Essex-and State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Systems and Methods of Operating the Same, of which the following is a full, clear, COTlClSGyfiIldBXflCfi description.

This invention relates to electric circuits in which a repeater or the like is connected between two transmissionlines in one manner for transmission in 'one direction, and in another manner for transmission in the opposite direction.

An object of the invention is to adapt one or more one-way repeating elements for the transmission of current .in both directions between the stations.

'This has been previously done by providing a reversing switch for the repeater which is reversed unless already properly connected, in response to current impressed on the line.

' repeater is continually reversed, i. e., pointed in first one direction and then in the other between the lines independently of the signaling current impressed on the 111188.

This is accomplished by a system of relays which automatically permits amplified cur-- rents to be sent first in one direction and then in the other over the line. When current is impressed at either end of the line, the one-way repeater is kept from reversing by means of a relay operated by the currents tobe amplified, and remains connect ed to the line in such a manner as to amplify the impressed currents and allowthem to pass to the distant station at the opposite end of the line.-

lVhen this improved repeater system is employed for handling. telephone current, it has the advantage that at the instant either subscriber stops talking, it is not necessary for the other subscriber tostart talking in order to reverse the direction of the one-way telephone repeater. This means that at the instant the subscriber at one end of the telephone line stops talking and the subscriber at the opposite end of the line answers him, the. one-way repeater may be in a position to amplify this reply and relay it to the "p ye According to the present invention, the

other subscriber without any'initial lag. In any case, the lag introduced in the transmis-v sion would only be a fraction of asecond or tomatically, whic interval may be made less than the shortest ing in which the single figure shows the invention adapted to, a telephone circuit.

the time required for the relays to reverse autime which can be made to elapse between the instant when-one subscriber stops talking and the other sub-- atv Referring to the drawings, the subscribers stations A and B are shown connected together through the contacts controlled by the armatures 1 and 2 of the polarized relays 3 and 4. The armatures 1 and 2 control the connections ofthe repeater 5 to the telephone lines 6 and 7. The repeater 5 here shown is of the mechanical type but obviously any other type of repeater may-be em- As shown in the drawing, the circuit is in a position for amplified telephone currents to pass from line 6 to line 7 (line 6 being connected to the input side of the repeater through armature 1, and line 7 being conthrough parmature 2). Normally, however, that is, when neither subscriber is talking, the circuit will only stay in the position shown in the drawing-for a fractionof a second, and the, next instant, due to the automatic operation of relays3,$4, 8 and 9, the circuit will be in a position for amplified currents to pass in a direction from line 7 to line 6. This automatic'operation of the relays is due to the fact that normally polarized'relay 9 which controls the operation of relays 3, 4 and 8 has direct current flowing from the battery 10 through winding 12 of the relay, :the 14 and 22 of relays 8 and llfrespectively to- ,nected to the output side of the repeater 5 -or'1e operating; closed-contacts ground and back Ito battery 10 in such a a manner that relay 9 will operate.- Solenoid 10 by way of armature 13 through the sole- 12 of relay 9 being energized, the armature I 13 is attracted, which connects the battery which energizes solenoid 16 of relay 9 by way of the closed contact 22 of-relay 11. The solenoid 16 being energized, the armature 13 is attracted to the position shown in the drawing which deenergizes relay 8, again completing the energizing circuit of solenoid 12, as previously described, the armature 13 continuing to be attracted first by solenoid 12 and then by solenoid 16, the oscillation of this armature continues automatically. Armature 13 in the position shown in-the drawin however, connects the battery by way of lead 17 to the solenoids 18 and 19 of relays 3 and 1, Which attract their armatures 1 and 2 to the positions shown in the drawings, so that line '1 is connected to the input side of the repeater, line 7 to the output side. When armature 13 assumes its alternate position however, which it does automatically, the solenoids 18 and 19 are deenergized and the solenoids 2t and 21 are energizedinstead from battery 10. The energization of solenoids 20 and 21 moves armatures 1 and 2 to, their alternate. positions in Which the input side of the repeater is connected to the line 7, its out put side being connected to the line 6. The automatic oscillation of the armature 13 then causes a synchronous automatic reversal of the connections of repeater 5 to the lines 6 and 7. The automatic operation of relays 3, 1, 8 and 9, pointing the repeater first in one direction and then in the other, continues as long as there are no currents pass ing over the line between the two subscribers stations, and the period of operation depends upon the speed of the various relays used. Relay 11, however, which is bridged across the input side of the repeater, is responsive to the telephone currents impressed on the line to set its contact 22 into vibration', thereby sufficiently increasing the re-. sistance' in circuit with solenoid 12 or 16, as the case may be, to'arrest the motion of the armature 13.

If the invention had been shown as applied to the amplification of ringing currents, then the relay 11 would respond to these ringing currents to bring about the desired change in the circuit connections. The invention is not limited .to any particul'ar form of thevrelay 11, which, in the circuit shown, is a voice-operated relay; and as indicating one type of relay which may be employed, reference is made to the patent to Brown 1,185, 172, Telephony, May 30,1916.

As soon as the subscriber at station A starts to talk'and sends out telephone cur rents over the line, when the input of the one-way telephone repeater, due to-the automatic operation of the circuit, is connected to the line 6 from station A, these telephone currents will operate relay 11 and open the battery circuit-through one of the solenoids of relay 9 and keep it open as long as tele- 'h the wind at st tion A stops talking the contact 22 becomes quiescent and the circuit starts to reverse automatically and is in a position to be controlled by the subscriber at either of the stations A or B. If voice current is im-' pressed on line 6 at a time when armature 1 connects the input side of the repeater to line 7, the relay 11 will not be operated until the armature 1 subsequently connects line 6 to the input side of the repeater and to the relay 11 as well. sent outv from station E, voice current not being able to go through the repeater from its output circuit to its input circuit since the repeater is a unilateral conductor, the relay -11 will only be operated when the armature 1 connects the input side of the repeater to the line 7, the output side of the repeater thenbeing connected to the line 6 by way of armature The relay 11 is permanently connected to the input side of the repeater and when temporarily connected to the incoming line 7, the relay 11 is then operated to arrest the automatic operation of relays 3, 4, 8 and 9, allowing the repeater to transmit 'in a direction from line 7 to line 6 as long as relay 11 is energizeddue to the currents impressed on the line 7 The description of the invention With special reference to its application in connection with voice frequencies is not to be taken as limiting its scope to uses involving such frequencies, for it is obviously adapted for application to the repeating of higher or lower frequencies. Likewise, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the details of circuit arrangement here disclosed, but is capable of embodimentin many and Widely varied arrangements without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Certain broad aspects of this invention which are not claimed herein are claimed in my application, Serial No. 213,522, Signaling systems, filed of even date herewith.

What is claimed .is: 1. The combination of two lines, a repeater therebetween, and means for automatically lff voice current is reversin the connections of said repeater and means responsive to current impressed on said lines for arresting said reversal.

3. A two-way repeater system comprising two lines, a repeater therefor, a relay controlling the connections of said repeater to said lines, and means for automatically associating said relay with and disassociating said relay from said lines, independently of the impression of current to be amplified on said lines.

4. A two-way repeater system comprising two signalin lines, a repeater therefor, a relay controlling the 'connection of said repeater to said lines, and means for auto-' matically operatively connecting said relay alternately to said lines.

5. A two-way repeater system comprising two lines, a repeater adapted to be connected thereto and means for controlling the repeater connections comprising a relay having an armature adapted to assume at least in motion independently of trolled by an said relays whereby two difi'erent osition'sfa second relay con-- (i adapted to control said first relay, and connections between said relays whereby said armature isadapted to be kept in motion independently of the current to' be repeated.

6. A two-way repeater system comprising two lines, a repeater adapted to be connected thereto and means for controlling the repeater connections comprising a relay having an armature adapted to assume at least two different positions, a second relay controlled by andadapted to control said first relay, connections between said relays whereby said armature is adapted to be kept the current to be repeated, and a third relay for arresting said motion.

7. A two-way repeater system comprising two lines, a repeater adapted to beconnected thereto and means for controlling the repeater connections comprising, arelay having an armature adapted to assume at least two different ositions, a second relay controlled by and adapted to control said tirst relay, connections between said relays whereby said armature is adapted to be kept in motion, and a reversing switch controlled by said armature.

8. A relay having an armature adapted to assume at least two different positions, a second relay controlled by and adapted to control said first relay, connections between said armature is adapted to be kept in motion, a third relay for arrestin said motion, a reversing switch controlled y said armature, a repeater adapted to be reversed by said switch, and two lines between which said repeater is connected, said third relay being responsive to the impression on said linesof current to be repeated. y

9. The combination of. two lines, a re'- peater adapted to be reversibly connected therebetween, switching mechanism for controlling the repeaterv connection and comprising an armature connected toone side of one of said lines, an'armature connected to one side of'the other of said lines, a plurality of contacts for each armature, the contacts for each of said armatures being connected to the opposide sides of said. repeater, and automatic means for repeatedly reversing the position of said armatures in rapid succession independently of the passage ofsignal current through said repeater.

10. The combination of two lines, a repeatertherebetween, and meansv for automatically and continually reversing the con nections of said repeater to said lines when no voice currents are impressed on said lines.

11. The method of operating a repeater circuit which comprises reversing the connection of the input and the output sides of said repeater in said circuit while no cur-- rentsare to be repeated, and suspending the ,7

reversing operation at other times.

12. The method of operating a repeater circuit which comprises reversing said repeater for transmission alternately in opposite d rect ons in said circuit while no current is to be repeated, applying to one end of said circuit impulses to be repeated, and 'maintaining therepeater in condition for transmission toward circuit while said i plied.

13. A repeater system comprising two lines, a repeater therefor, means for reversing the connections of said repeater to said lines, continually operating means controlling said reversing means, and means responsive to current impressed on said lines for preventing said continually operating pulses are being apthe other end of the means from operating said reversing means. 14. A repeater system comprising two lines, a repeater therefor, means for reversing the connections of said repeater to said lines, means comprising a movable contact for operating said reversing means, said vcontact assuming a plurality of positions for reversing said repeater, means for continually moving said contact, and means for assuming control of said reversing means independently of. said contact.

15. In a repeating system, a unidirectional repeater, and meansv for controlling the pointing of said repeater, said means comprising a switch and alternative means for operating said switch, one of said means continually operating and another of Bald means operating intermittently.

16. A repeating system comprising a line, a repeater therefor,-

said repeater to and disconnecting said re-' means for connecting peatenfrom said line, a movable contact,

controlling said connecting and disconnect ing means, means for moving said contact independently of current impressed on said line, and means responsive to current impressed on said line for assuming control of said connecting and disconnecting means.

17. The combination ofa plurality of lines, a device to be reversibly connected therebetween, a movable contact forming the termination of one side of one of said lines, a movable contact forming the termination of one side of'another of said dines, stationary contacts tor each of said movable contacts, interconnections between said stationary contacts, connections from;

said "interconnections to said device, and a relay responsive to current in. each of said lines for controlling said movable contacts.

18. A two-way repeater system comprising the combination of two telephone lines, 'a repeater .to be reversibly connected therebetween, a movable contact forming the termination of one side of one of said lines, a

movable contact forming the termination of one side of another of said lines, frontand with, two solenoids for actuating said movable contact, a source of electromotive force,

means for connecting said source to said solenoids alternately, and means responsive to alternating currents for controlling said first mentioned means. i i

20. Asignaling system comprising a plurality of stationary contacts, a movable contact adapted to be cyclically connected therewith, motive means for driving said movable contact, and means responsive to currents within the voice frequency range for modifying the cyclical connection of said contacts.

21. A signaling system comprising a plurality of lines, connections comprising synchronously operated contacts for cyclically connecting said lines, and means responsive to alternating currents impressed on one or said lines for arresting the cyclical connection.

22. A two-way repeater system coniprising two lines, a repeater, connections comprising synchronously operated contacts for cyclically reversing the repeater connections while no currents are to be repeated, and means responsive to an impulse impressed on one of said lines for arresting the reversal of said repeater.

23. The method of operating contacts which comprises applying electromotive force to the contacts at times, cyclically connecting one contact with another when there is no elcctromotive force across the contacts and suspending the cyclical operation upon .the application of electromotive force to the contacts.

24. The method of operating a unidirectional repeater which comprises cyclically reversing the pointing of the repeater in the intervals during which no currents are to be repeated, applying to said repeater impulses to be repeated, and arresting the reversal of the pointing of the repeater upon the application of said impulses to said repeater.

25. The method of two-way telephone current repeating which comprises cyclically connecting one contact with another in the intervalsduring which no currents are Y to be repeated, and in arresting the cyclical operation in response to telephone currents.

26. The combination of two lines, a repeater therebetween, and means for automatically reversing the connections of said repeater to said lines independently of the impression, of electromotive force on said lines.

27; The combination of two lines, a repeater therebetween, and means for causing reversals of the pointing of said repeater to occur automatically in rapid succession.

28. Atwo-way repeating system comprising two lines, a repeater therebetween, and means for automatically reversing the connections of said repeater to said lines at a given frequency.

29. A. two-way repeater system comprising two lines, a repeater therefor, a relay controlling the connection of said repeater to said lines, and means for automatically connecting said relay alternately across said lines.

30'. A two-way repeater system comprising two lines, a repeater therefor, a relay coil controlling the connection of said repeater to said lines, and means for automatically connecting said relay coil alternately to said lines.

31. The combination of two lines, a repeater therebetween, means for causing reversals of the pointing 01 said repeater to occur automatically in rapid succession, and means for preventing reversal of the repeater when impulses are to be repeated.

32. A two-way repeating system comprising two lines, .a repeater therebetween, means for automatically reversing the connections of said repeater to said lines at a given frequency, reversal of the repeater when impulses are to be repeated. l

33. The method of controlling a unidirectional repeating element which comprises cyclically reversing the pointing of the reand means for preventing peating element at small time intervals, between times when current is to be repeated.

34. The method of controlling a repeater circuit which comprises cyclically reversing the connection of the repeater to the circuit for transmission alternately in opposite directions, between times when current is to be repeated.

35..The combination of a solenoid, a movable contact controlled thereby, a source of current for said solenoid, a movable contact for reducing the currrent through said solenoid to a small value, a vibratile contact controlling the action of said second mentionedcontact, and a switch controlled by said first mentioned contact.

36. A signaling system comprising a line,

a repeater adapted to be reversibly connected thereto, and means for controlling the repeater connections comprising a solenoid, a movable contact controlled thereby, a source of current-for said solenoid, a movable contact for reducing the current through said solenoid to a small value, a

vibratile contact responsive to current impressed on said line for controlling the action of said first mentioned contact, and a switch controlled by 'said first mentioned movable contact for controlling the repeater connections.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 18th day of January A. D.,

EDGAR D. JOHNSON. 

